AIR EFFICIENCY, Aircrew Europe, Senior Officer, (614 Sqd Lysanders) This was an Anti-Invasion Chemical Warfare Unit charged with spraying invading troops & beaches with chemical warfare agents from undercarriage canisters.

An important group to a Senior Officer.
1939-45. Aircrew Europe, Defence & War Medals, Air Efficiency Award.
614 (County of Glamorgan) Squadron,
(Army Co-operation Auxiliary Air Force).
"Lysanders"

AIR EFFICIENCY, Aircrew Europe, Senior Officer, (614 Sqd Lysanders) This was an Anti-Invasion Chemical Warfare Unit charged with spraying invading troops & beaches with chemical warfare agents from undercarriage canisters.    AIR EFFICIENCY, Aircrew Europe, Senior Officer, (614 Sqd Lysanders) This was an Anti-Invasion Chemical Warfare Unit charged with spraying invading troops & beaches with chemical warfare agents from undercarriage canisters.     AIR EFFICIENCY, Aircrew Europe, Senior Officer, (614 Sqd Lysanders) This was an Anti-Invasion Chemical Warfare Unit charged with spraying invading troops & beaches with chemical warfare agents from undercarriage canisters.     (Includes miniatures)

 

 

 

   

 Anti-Invasion Chemical Warfare and Anti-Invasion Coastal Patrol.

To:
Act, W/Cdr R.O. RHYS A.A.F . 
An interesting group to a pre-war entrant and later high ranking RAF officer who served in an unusual aircrew capacity early in the war and then later served overseas in the USA as part of British Joint Staff Mission at the Offices of the Chiefs of Staff in Washington D.C. (includes Censored Envelope)  AIR EFFICIENCY, Aircrew Europe, Senior Officer, (614 Sqd Lysanders) This was an Anti-Invasion Chemical Warfare Unit charged with spraying invading troops & beaches with chemical warfare agents from undercarriage canisters.

RICHARD OWEN RHYS.  
Born June 1915 Aberystwyth district Cardiganshire

                  P/O          28.9.37     (90386)
F/O.         28.3.39
Flt/Lt.     03.9.40
Sqd/Ldr   01.06.43
Wg/Cdr.    11.01.45

28.9.1937
AIR EFFICIENCY, Aircrew Europe, Senior Officer, (614 Sqd Lysanders) This was an Anti-Invasion Chemical Warfare Unit charged with spraying invading troops & beaches with chemical warfare agents from undercarriage canisters. Commissioned 614 Sqd (County of Glamorgan) Army Co-Operation Sqd, Auxiliary Air Force. (general duties branch) 

HISTORY
614 Sqd, was operating the Westland Lysander and assited in spotting for the Army in Belgium and France. Sustaining large losses due to the nature of the aircraft the squadron ceased European operations. I
n June 1940 the squadron moved to Grangemouth, Scotland (from its initial base in Wales) to carry out ANTI-INVASION coastal patrols and training with the Royal Navy. It was tasked with anti-invasion coastal patrols. The unit was also to be part of ' Operation Banquet ' which was the plan to lay mustard gas on any German invasion beach head. This was to be released from cannisters strapped to the undercarriage of the Lysanders.The base at Grangemouth was also used for other secret operations involving the Lysanders of 614 Squadron, the whole area around the base was restricted due to the stockpiles of mustard gas and the secrecy of the missions carried out. The restricted area took in the near by town and the docks, special passes were issued to all residents.

Covering an area from Inverness to Lerwick, 614 Sqd 'A' flight, which was detached to Inverness for that purpose, became No. 241 Squadron RAF in the process.
From July 1941 it began re-equipping with Bristol Blenheims, a process completed by January 1942.

19.9.1941
Transferred to Administrative and Special Duties Branch,

Served with British Joint Staff Mission, Offices of the Combined Chiefs of Staff, Washington DC,
USA.

03.05.65 
Deputy Lieutenant of Glamorgan

AIR EFFICIENCY, Aircrew Europe, Senior Officer, (614 Sqd Lysanders) This was an Anti-Invasion Chemical Warfare Unit charged with spraying invading troops & beaches with chemical warfare agents from undercarriage canisters.

 

 

A NICE SET OF MEDALS TO A MAN WHO HAD AN UNUSUAL SERVICE CAREER.
Court mounted with miniatures on original if slightly soiled ribbons. 

SOLD


 


AIR EFFICIENCY, Aircrew Europe, Senior Officer, (614 Sqd Lysanders) This was an Anti-Invasion Chemical Warfare Unit charged with spraying invading troops & beaches with chemical warfare agents from undercarriage canisters.

AIR EFFICIENCY, Aircrew Europe, Senior Officer, (614 Sqd Lysanders) This was an Anti-Invasion Chemical Warfare Unit charged with spraying invading troops & beaches with chemical warfare agents from undercarriage canisters.
£SOLD

An important group to a Senior Officer. Aircrew Europe etc, & Air Efficiency Award. 614 (County of Glamorgan) Squadron, Army Co-operation Auxiliary Air Force. "Lysanders" Anti-Invasion Chemical Warfare. To: Act, W/Cdr R.O. RHYS A.A.F . An interesting group to a high ranking officer who served in an unusual aircrew capacity early in the war and later served overseas in the USA as part of British Joint Staff Mission at the Offices of the Chiefs of Staff in Washington D.C.